Supporting Black Farmers and Black Land Ownership

Community Climate Adaptation

10 acres conserved

$455,000 of local real estate strengthened

A bridge loan can make a big difference, enabling a nonprofit to get started on a project before a capital campaign is complete or grant funding has been received.

This $424,000 bridge loan enabled the Black Oregon Land Trust (BOLT), a start-up nonprofit focused on Black farmer training and farm ownership, to purchase a 10-acre property to incubate agricultural businesses for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers.

‍

The nonprofit was founded by Shantae Johnson, a Black farmer and owner of Mud Bone Farm with a long history of apprenticeship and activism for Black farmers in Oregon. BOLT is dedicated to ensuring that Black communities in Oregon have secure and affordable land access, sustainable agricultural skills, and the protected ecosystems needed to grow economically, environmentally, and culturally thriving communities.

Coaching Clients to Loan Readiness

Our stories tend to focus on the loan and what that loan enables, whether it’s a community center, a retail shop, or a construction project. For business owners, however, it’s often a lot of work to successfully apply for and receive a loan. This is especially true as many of the clients we serve are unable to qualify for bank financing and may need to do additional work to demonstrate loan readiness.

General Business Loan

Olympia Community Solar Delivers Local Clean Energy and Savings

Olympia Community Solar wanted to help Thurgood Marshall Middle School transition to clean energy and lower its utility bills. A Craft3 bridge loan provided the funds upfront to install the solar project. Not only did this provide an environmentally friendly solution, but also it reduced the neighborhood’s energy burdens, allowing the school and residents to reinvest in their buildings, education, and students.

Feeling at Home at OHSUN Banchan Deli & Cafe

Sara Upshaw wanted her business to feel like a cozy home, but she herself didn’t feel at home in the world of business, which she found to be secretive and opaque. Determined to launch her business, Sara connected with Craft3 for coaching and loan support. The loan she received covered tenant improvements and startup costs, and provided an opportunity for a new entrepreneur to feel at home.

General Business Loan

Accessibility Privacy Policy Terms of Use NMLS Consumer Access Title VI

Craft3 is an equal opportunity lender and employer. NMLS #390159. Completing an application does not guarantee loan approval or funding. Craft3 (EIN 91-1662698) is a 501(c)(3): all donations are tax deductible. Copyright 2024 Craft3. All rights reserved.